Offering a different kind of cold comfort, West Virginia University recreation and adventure professionals are providing tips for maintaining motivation to get moving during the winter months to support physical and mental health. Andy Darling, director of WVU Campus Recreation, Jacob Rex, trips and…
Tag: Exercise
Myth busted: Healthy habits take longer than 21 days to set in
We’re nearly one month into 2025, but if you’re struggling to hold onto your New Year’s resolution, stay strong, as University of South Australia research shows that forming a healthy habit can take longer than you expect.
Exercise Improves Brain Function, Possibly Reducing Dementia Risk
A study led by scientists at Rutgers University-New Brunswick has shown that specialized cells involved in how the body responds to insulin are activated in the brain after exercise, suggesting that physical activity may directly improve brain function. A recent study, published in Aging Cell, a journal focused on the biology of aging, indicates that therapies targeting this insulin action may be developed to offset or even prevent dementia progression.
Low on energy? Expert recommends a natural boost over caffeine
Pounding energy drinks and scheduling extra coffee stops in your day may do you more harm than good. Kristen Chang, assistant director of the Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics program, offers natural approaches to boost your energy levels this time of year.
Could US-style summer holiday programs boost Aussie kids’ health?
As the school year winds up, thousands of Aussie kids are looking forward to the summer holidays. But hand-in hand with this freedom comes an abundance of screentime, unhealthy snacks, and a lack of routine, and it has the potential to affect children’s physical and mental health.
Truck drivers need tailored health supports to Keep on Truckin’
It might seem out of place on the side of a highway, but purpose-built exercise equipment installed at truck stops across Australia could be just the thing to encourage truck drivers to take a break and take control of their health and wellbeing.
Prolonged sitting can sabotage health, even if you’re young and active
A new study of 1,000 adults found that meeting minimum physical activity guidelines isn’t enough to counteract the health hazards of prolonged sitting.
Study finds intense exercise may suppress appetite in healthy humans
A vigorous workout does more to suppress hunger levels in healthy adults than does moderate exercise, and females may be especially susceptible to this response, according to a small study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
ACSM Announces Worldwide Fitness Trends for 2025
Technology applications in the fitness industry continue to build momentum as Wearable Technology, Mobile Exercise Apps and Data-Driven Training Technology all appear in the top 10 of the 2025 ACSM Worldwide Fitness Trends. The report was published today by the American College of Sports Medicine in its November/December issue of ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal®.
The Medical Minute: Exercise gain without pain. Well, maybe some soreness.
Ow, ow, ow. A little soreness after a workout is normal. But how much is – ow – too much? A Penn State Health expert weighs in.
Endurance Exercise without Weight Loss May Reduce Body Fat
Participating in a high volume of exercise over a short period of time, such as cycling hundreds of miles in a few days, could reduce body fat levels without weight loss. The first-of-its-kind study is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism and has been chosen as an APSselect article for September.
77-year-old Marathon World-record Holder Showed Elevated VO2Max, Heart Remodeling after Lifetime of Endurance Exercise
Article title: Lifelong physiology of a former marathon world-record holder – the pros and cons of extreme cardiac remodeling Authors: Stephen J. Foulkes, Mark J. Haykowsky, Peter M. Kistler, Glenn McConell, Scott Trappe, Mark Hargreaves, David Costill, André La Gerche…
Model of Running Outcomes Could Inform Training for Different Groups
Article title: An empirical model for world record running speeds with distance, age, and sex: anaerobic and aerobic contributions to performance Authors: Tuhin K. Roy, Michael J. Joyner, Jonathon W. Senefeld, Chad C. Wiggins, Timothy W. Secomb From the authors: “This empirical…
JMU experts offer back-to-school tips, advice for students
HARRISONBURG, Va. — As students across the country return to school for the 2024-25 academic year, faculty experts at James Madison University are providing advice to help students focus on their health and wellness, learning routines, budgeting and civic engagement.…
What Time You Exercise Doesn’t Affect Muscle Force or Reduce Blood Sugar
Rockville, Md. (August 22, 2024)—The ability of skeletal muscle to produce force (contractile function) and contraction-stimulated glucose uptake (increase in clearing sugar from bloodstream) do not differ by time of day, regardless of sex or muscle type. The first-of-its-kind study…
It only takes 15 minutes to change your health
Corporate Cup, lunchtime yoga, or even ‘walk and talks’, organisations come up with all sorts of wellness initiatives to encourage people to be more active in the workplace. But before you duck and hide, new research shows that all it takes is 15 minutes and a touch of gamification to put you on the path to success.
Swipe up! Health apps deliver real results en masse
They’re the dinky digital tools you can download in a few seconds, but despite their literal size, health and fitness apps pack a real punch when it comes to getting results, say researchers at the University of South Australia.
The experts behind the athletes share the science of high performance
As the Olympics draw inspiration and wonder into how athletes manage to achieve such a high level of success and skill, a new podcast series is serving up useful insights into what it takes to optimise performance in sports.
For Bigger Muscles Push Close to Failure, For Strength, Maybe Not
When lifting weights, do you wonder how pushing yourself to the point of failure—where you can’t do another rep—impacts your results? New research finds that if you’re aiming for muscle growth, training closer to failure might be more effective.
Physical activity improves early with customized text messages in patients with heart problems
Personalized text messages effectively promoted increased physical activity for patients after significant heart events — such as a heart attack or surgery — but those effects later diminished.
Sports Vouchers kick goals for kids facing barriers
A team of researchers led by the University of South Australia is delving into the reasons behind the low take-up rate of sports vouchers by families who could benefit from them the most.
New Study Finds 40-Percent of Cancer Cases and Almost Half of all Deaths in the U.S. Linked to Modifiable Risk Factors
A new study led by researchers at the American Cancer Society finds four in 10 cancer cases and about one-half of all cancer deaths in adults 30 years old and older in the United States could be attributed to modifiable risk factors, including cigarette smoking, excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, diet, and infections.
As Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games approach, experts give tips for athletes, weekend warriors, and travelers
With less than a month until the Summer Olympic Games in Paris, and with Olympic Trials taking place all around the world in different sports, Virginia Tech experts offer perspective on aspects of the competitions, applying Olympic habits to our own lives, and how the Games are impacting both travel to and life on the ground in Paris.
Do People Who Exercise More Have a Lower Risk of ALS?
Moderate levels of physical activity and fitness may be linked to a reduced risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) later in life, according to a new study published in the June 26, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Painful truth about knee osteoarthritis: Why inactivity may be more complex than we think.
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of pain and joint stiffness. And while physical activity is known to ease symptoms, only one in 10 people regularly exercise.
NUTRITION 2024 showcases groundbreaking research on what we eat and why it matters
Be among the first to hear breaking news in food and nutrition science at NUTRITION 2024, the annual flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held June 29–July 2 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Vigorous Exercise May Preserve Cognition in High-Risk Patients With Hypertension
People with high blood pressure have a higher risk of cognitive impairment, including dementia, but a new study from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine suggests that engaging in vigorous physical activity more than once a week can lower that risk.
Childhood sedentariness may cause premature liver damage in young adulthood
Children who are sedentary for more than six waking hours a day have a significantly increased risk of severe fatty liver disease and liver cirrhosis by young adulthood, a new study finds. The research findings will be presented Saturday at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Boston, Mass and published in Nature’s npj Gut and Liver.
Boots on the Ground
In February 2016, 215 soldiers from the U.S. and Canadian militaries conducted a 10-day exercise called Arctic Ram. Their objective was to demonstrate they could rapidly respond to an emergency in the Arctic. In this case, they simulated retrieving a military satellite that crash-landed north of the small town of Resolute on Cornwallis Island in Nunavut, Canada.
New Data Outlines Positive Effects of Endurance Exercise Training
Rockville, Md. (May 16, 2024)—Treadmill training, a form of endurance exercise, was found to be highly effective “with robust improvements in skeletal muscle citrate synthase activity in as little as [one to two] weeks, and improvements in maximum run speed…
Exercise does not accelerate artery plaque buildup more often seen in fitness enthusiasts
Exercising, even at extreme levels, does not accelerate the calcium buildup in arteries more often seen in marathoners and fitness enthusiasts, according to new research from UT Southwestern and the Cooper Institute. The study, which analyzed more than 8,700 participants…
Daylight Saving Time Spells Bad News for Healthy Habits
New research suggests that making the change to daylight saving time isn’t good for our healthy habits. Researchers found that the onset of daylight saving time is associated with increased consumption of processed snack foods and fewer trips to the gym.
When Working Out, Males Are Programmed to Burn More Fat, while Females Recycle It—at Least in Rats
Vigorous exercise burns fat more in males than in females, but the benefits of exercise are broad for both sexes.
First Steps Toward a Whole-Body Map of Molecular Responses to Exercise
PNNL contributes to a nationwide research consortium investigating the molecular mechanisms triggered by endurance training.
Cardio-fitness cuts death and disease by nearly 20%
Running, cycling, or swimming – if you regularly exercise, you’re well on track for a long and healthy life, as groundbreaking new research from the University of South Australia finds that an increased cardio fitness level will reduce your risk of death from any cause by 11-17%.
A university lecture, with a dash of jumping jacks
A university professor has found a way to help students – and himself – power through long lecture classes: exercise breaks. A new study showed that five-minute exercise sessions during lectures were feasible and that students reported positive impacts on their attention and motivation, engagement with their peers and course enjoyment.
Impact of Meditation Versus Exercise on Psychological Characteristics, Paranormal Experiences, and Beliefs: Randomized Trial
Abstract Background: Research indicates that meditation increases mindfulness and paranormal experiences of precognition, telepathy, clairvoyance, and synchronicities. There is limited knowledge about the prevalence or impact of these experiences on meditators and the general population. Aims: To compare self-reported well-being,…
Regular Exercise Prevents DNA Damage with Aging
Regular aerobic exercise later in life prevents genomic instability characterized by DNA damage and telomere dysfunction
Short On Time? A 15-minute Workout May Help Boost Your Immune System
Exercising at moderate intensity for just 15 minutes may be all that is needed to boost immunity by increasing levels of natural killer (NK) cells. Researchers will present their work this week at the American Physiology Summit in Long Beach, California.
Want to cut U.S. heart risks? Get more people into primary care, study suggests
When someone has a heart attack or a stroke, specialized care can give them the best chance of surviving.
Rising rates of head and facial injuries from exercise and weightlifting
Numbers of craniofacial injuries related to exercise and weightlifting have increased sharply over the past decade, reports a study in The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
Children with autism benefit from use of video games
A University of Delaware lab is now pioneering the use of video games – specifically Nintendo Switch’s Ring Fit – as an intervention to enhance movement and motor skills for children with autism. The research further demonstrates the positive impact of exercise-based games on cognition and social interactions.
Healthy sleep needs a healthy day: boost exercise to beat your bedtime blues
A world first study from the University of South Australia shows that getting a good night’s sleep is tied to how you structure your day, with exercise at the heart of sleep quality.
Staying active and reducing time sitting will boost heart health
HARRISONBURG, Va. — As American Heart Month comes to a close, remaining active is the key to improving heart health along with limiting sedentary time, a JMU researcher says. “It’s not possible for people to exercise for hours and hours…
Heat Stress May Affect the Muscles for Longer Than We Think
People who experience heat stress during exercise may need more recovery time to let their muscles heal, according to a new mouse study published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology.
University of Limerick, Ireland research confirms benefits of resistance exercise training in treatment of anxiety and depression
A new study by researchers at University of Limerick in Ireland and at Iowa State University has demonstrated the impact resistance exercise training can have in the treatment of anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Some Benefits of Exercise Stem from the Immune System
Research in mice shows that the anti-inflammatory properties of exercise may arise from immune cells mobilized to counter exercise-induced inflammation. Immune cells prevent muscle damage by lowering levels of interferon, a key driver of chronic inflammation, inflammatory diseases, and aging.
Wintertime blues? Health expert offers tips to combat seasonal affective disorder
Millions are affected by seasonal affective disorder (SAD) every year. The annual pattern of winter depression and melancholy suggests a strong link between your mood and the amount of light you get during the day, says Lina Begdache, assistant professor…
Menstrual Cycle Phase Doesn’t Affect Fuel Provision during Exercise
Article title: The impact of natural menstrual cycle and oral contraceptive pill phase on substrate oxidation during rest and acute submaximal aerobic exercise Authors: Jennifer S. Williams, Jenna C. Stone, Zaryan Masood, William Bostad, Martin J. Gibala, Maureen J. MacDonald…
These Screen-printed, Flexible Sensors Allow Earbuds to Record Brain Activity and Exercise Levels
Earbuds can be turned into a tool to record the electrical activity of the brain and levels of lactate in the body with two flexible sensors screen-printed onto a flexible surface.